The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-09-11

sleeping by dozens upon the stones for
lack OF lodging. and II seemed that the few re-
ports published Of tho matter must have been
colored by strong imaginations. visited Ira
falgar Square this morning ct az, upon leaving
the House OF Commons, and learned that tho
accounts which had read gave but weak
idea OF the real condition Of affairs. Il was
bleak night, with thin, cold rain drizzlinR down
at intervals. and the air was full Of dampness.
At q distance the huge square. oil paved with
stone and Ill lighted. appeared deserted,
but everything changed on nearer acauaint-
ance, and 1t became evident that fror, his
majestic column shooting high up into the air
the one-armed figure OF Nelson looked down
upon hugo encampment OF degradation, Nth,
and poverty. Not less than thousand miser.
able human beings were crowded together on
the damp stones Of the square. dozen or
twenty mon. clinging. It seemed, to cleanliness
In their poverty, were gathered around the edge
OF the big fountains. washing themselves or
tneir belongings One man. rather old.
stood naked to the waist washing his shirt.
Whom left he was still naked, alternately
wringing his shirt and hanging It up to dry,
trying all sorts Of devices to protect It from
the misty rain. A young man. having stripped
himself quite naked. was taking complete
bath. but q prudence, wise in such company,
kept him ever close to the edge OF his stone tub,
with his acanty raiment held firmly In his grasp
Those who INDUCED In foot baths were many.
The approved plan appeared to be for the
bather to remove his shoes II he had any
stockings Of any sort seemed out ofthe question
and to take up as comfortable position as
possible on the edge Of the basin, and. with
trousers or shirts held up. to allow the feet to
danGle In the water until swelling and pain
should have ceased toworry by sheer process
Of freoEing. There wore others still moro
plentiful, especially among tho women, en-
gagged in washing out various bits OF linen.
One very straight old man, who looked o.
though he might have been in tho army, was
hard at work, as I arrived. upon o large
red bandanna handkerchief In which all OF
his remaining pride was evidently centred. A
very few. whose heroism cannot be overesti-
mated. considering the condition Of the water
In the fountains, were washing their faces or
even dipping their heads completely under.
In tho different parts Of tho thickly crowded
square was seen almost every branch ofhouse-
keeping open to extreme poverty. for while the
majority were sleeping or trying to sleep,
others were engaged in occupations specially
adapted to the night An example OF indus
try and RESIGNATION was afforded by an
old woman and her husband. sitting side
By side under one Of the few lights. Tho old
woman was hard at work mending something.
Tho old man. who sat very quiet. had his legs
wrapped up In bits ofnewspaper fastened here
and there with strings. 1t was the garment
which should have held the place Of the news-
papers. and which is SO absolutely indispensa-
Bile In the daytime, upon which the old mans
companion was working 80 industriously,
while night protected her husband and made
newspaper substitutes possible The active
members OF this misery camp were gathered
about the fountains and under tho rare gas
lamps. Tho grand dormitory was on ths north
side. whore Pail Mall. bounding the stony ex-
panse. risos above the level OF the square.
which ends here in q high wall Against this
wall the sleepers lay in long rows. four.
flve. ard in some places as many as ton
deep, seeking protection from tho chilling
wind that blew from the north There were q
few wooden benches scattered along. and these
had been eaGerIy sought early in tho night as
choice berths. Some were occupied BY but ono
lucky tenant stretched comfortably out, and
always displaying a breadth OF back and thick
ness OF limb that proved him able to maintain
his rsro privileges against all clamorers for
fair play. The majority. however. were crowded
with men and women sitting closely packed
side by side, sleeping with mouths open and
heads hanging back. 1t was not Q pretty sight.
Those on the benches. however, were tho lucky
ones. the aristocrats Of the dormitory. A
larger number were stretched out on tho
damp stones. with their heads upon q
rolled garment. newspaper. or resting sim
ply on the sloeper's arm. A sadly large num-
Der were women, especially among those
least comfortably placed. The majority
were rather under middle age some barely
90, with miserable rags. matted hair, bad
faces, and every sign Of degradation. There
was one striking exception noticed by mel to
the general rule OF evident debasement among
the women. 1t was that Of pale, thin crea-
turs. shockingly clad, lying upon her back on
the stones apparently asleep, and holding In
her arms baby thinner and paler. and
wrapped In a shawl that the mother sadly
needed for herself. Luckily. the child was not
doomed to pass the night there. for two men
whom noticed walking about among the wo-
men awoke the mother, and, after few mo-
ments OF querulous expostulation on her part
carried II OIL. These mon have been engaged
for nights past-employed. believe. BY some
charity-to gather up the very young children
to whom such exposure might mean speedy
death. Tho men went away with that baby
and two others which they had gathered up
and drove OF In van. After they had gone
the mother wrapped herself in her shawl.which
they had left, but did not lie down or 60 to
sleep again. She still sat rocking herself back
Wufu 0hu lOIWuKu Wucu inst odW uoE IltE
history. II 1t could be known. would certainly
have revealed degree Of misery rare even In
such collection Of wretchednesa The picture
which she presented. lamenting her baby on
cold stones, was ono calculated, while II lasted,
to make one feel uncomfortable even under
the warmest OF blankets.
have said that reports read by me Of this
den Of misery failed to give any true idea Of 1t.
That which have written fails as completely
to do SO. To know the present wretchedness
OF the London poor. and to gain an idea of
what 1t will be with the cold OF winter added, 1t
was necessary to look upon that horrible
crowd Of mon and women, every one In the last
stage OF poverty, lacking In everything that
makes life bearable. and without any hope but
In disorder or outrage Of some sort that might
enable them 10 seizo upon q share Of the wealth
piled up to tempt them on every side. There
will be labor troubles here this winter unless
some radical step be taken. and 1t will need no
very clover argument to persuade poor devils
with empty stomachs and cold limbs that socie-